This course is intended to provide guidance at an advanced level, through both regulatory information and management tools, for vessel Owners, Operators, Managers, Masters, and Officers to take the necessary actions to regulate discharges and to fulfill recordkeeping and reporting requirements outlined in the 2013 Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Commercial Vessels and Large Recreational Vessels (VGP, effective date 19 December 2013), under the authority of the US Clean Water Act of 1973.

The final objective of the course is to provide all the involved officials with an accurate training in order to run the ship in US fully compliant with the Vessel General Permit and have a safe and smooth port operations in US in terms of environmental ground.